Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart
B/W Standing Around Crying

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Mick writes:

I can't help it... I like this.

An indisputably brilliant song by the top songwriting team of Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook, which was a big hit for Gene Pitney back in the early sixties.

So I conceived this as the kind of thing that maybe Jeff Beck would have done back in the day - a cheesy pop song but with some meaty guitar in places. I bought a few of them at the time .. 'Tallyman' anybody?

And I think this has turned out as something that might have come out of one of those 1960s Denmark Street Studios which belonged to the music publishing companies and were used to demo new songs. Sometimes, if funds were short, the demo became the master. We did a few ourselves with Killing Floor at different times. Hmm.. fancy a coffee at The Giaconda?

In keeping with the 60s feel I've used one of the only photos of young Mick, 18 years old, with Killing Floor, circa 1969. I think the huge shirt collar gives it away. These photos were taken at Decca by photographer David Wedgbury, who photographed everyone in the 60s from the Stones to David Bowie, (and the famous Clapton 'Beano' cover). We did our own front cover for the first Killing Floor album in the same session... "suck your cheeks in Mick!".. thanks to our manager John Edward for that.

But it is the only surviving pic that I know of of myself with my SG Junior.. (£65 from Macari's on Charing Cross Road.. I went in for a £55 Harmony Meteor but Larry talked me into the Gibson. Mind you, I wish I had both guitars now.) And resplendent in my Buckskin Jacket... (26 Guineas from 'The Westerner' in Old Compton Street. I left it at the Hirschen Club in Zurich after a long residency, but to be honest it had seen its best days by then).

Yes I am being unapologetically nostalgic but what the hell.. you're allowed when you get old. And I feel blessed that I lived through those times.. actually hitting the 60s as I hit my teens. And in London. Some luck eh?

Anyway, back to the point.. I can't help but like this. Despite my way below competent singing.. surely that's part of the charm? (chancing me arm there). I tried to pitch it in a kind of throwaway 80s post punk manner / stroke / getting Jeff Beck to actually sing on his own records, though I swear there's a touch of early Andy Fairweather Low in places. Well, whatever.

Like I say - great song. If Messrs Greenaway or Cook get to hear it I hope they don't choke on their granola. (Insert smile emoji and rock on...)

Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart.

And in the best traditions of 60s pop singles - a bit of blues on the virtual B Side! My version of Muddy's 'Standing Around Crying'. Approached in a more laid back, softer style than the original - I wouldn't have tried to compete with one of Muddy's best tracks ever.

Still, I think my version has something going for it - hope you enjoy this odd double bill!